U.S. patent application number 14/211893 was filed with the patent office on 2014-09-18 for drawer guide system.
This patent application is currently assigned to HANDY BUTTON MACHINE CO.. The applicant listed for this patent is HANDY BUTTON MACHINE CO.. Invention is credited to Raymond Davidson, Thomas Hunter, Robert A. Moris.
Application Number | 20140265791 14/211893 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51524522 |
Filed Date | 2014-09-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140265791 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hunter; Thomas ; et
al. |
September 18, 2014 |
Drawer Guide System
Abstract
A drawer guide system having a case runner plastic assembly and
a drawer guide plastic assembly for receiving the case runner
plastic assembly. The case runner plastic assembly includes a case
runner plastic adapted to be secured to a drawer frame, and a case
runner attached to the case runner plastic and having a pair of cam
mechanisms. The drawer guide plastic assembly includes a drawer
guide adapted to be secured to a drawer, and a drawer guide plastic
secured to the drawer guide. The drawer guide plastic includes a
pair of tabs, and the drawer guide includes a pair of side walls,
each of which has a window for receiving the pair of tabs. Upon
contact with the tabs of the drawer guide plastic, the cam
mechanisms automatically rotate into the corresponding windows,
temporarily securing the case runner plastic to the drawer
guide.
Inventors: |
Hunter; Thomas; (Williams
Bay, WI) ; Moris; Robert A.; (New Lenox, IL) ;
Davidson; Raymond; (Westchester, IL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
HANDY BUTTON MACHINE CO. |
Wheeling |
IL |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
HANDY BUTTON MACHINE CO.
Wheeling
IL
|
Family ID: |
51524522 |
Appl. No.: |
14/211893 |
Filed: |
March 14, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61792845 |
Mar 15, 2013 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/334.12 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 88/90 20170101;
A47B 88/57 20170101 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/334.12 |
International
Class: |
A47B 88/10 20060101
A47B088/10 |
Claims
1. A case runner plastic assembly for a drawer guide system
comprising: a case runner having a front end, a rear end, a base, a
pair of side walls attached to the base and a pair of outwardly
extending flanges attached to the pair of side walls and extending
from the front end; and a case runner plastic having a front end, a
rear end, a central portion adapted to be secured to a drawer
frame, a pair of cam mechanisms, each cam mechanism disposed on
either side of the central portion, and a roller bearing surface
disposed in the rear end, wherein the rear end of the case runner
plastic is disposed within and removably secured to the front end
of the case runner such that the pair of side walls of the case
runner contact the rear end of the case runner plastic and the pair
of cam mechanisms is rotated upon contacting a tab of a drawer
guide plastic and engages and locks a pair of side walls of a
drawer guide when the drawer guide is in a fully extended
position.
2. The case runner plastic assembly of claim 1, the case runner
plastic further comprising a bracket having an aperture for
receiving a screw or other attachment mechanism for securing the
case runner plastic to the drawer frame, wherein the central
portion and the pair of cam mechanisms are disposed on the
bracket.
3. The case runner plastic assembly of claim 2, wherein each cam
mechanism of the pair of cam mechanisms is secured to the bracket
via a screw or other attachment mechanism.
4. The case runner plastic assembly of claim 1, wherein the central
portion further comprises a pair of arms extending therefrom, the
pair of arms adapted to be wedged between the pair of side walls of
the drawer guide during movement of the drawer guide along the case
runner plastic assembly.
5. A drawer guide plastic assembly for a drawer guide system
comprising: a drawer guide having a front end, a rear end, a top
portion, a pair of side walls attached to the top portion, a pair
of inwardly extending flanges attached to the pair of side walls
and extending from the front end to the rear end, an elongate
recess disposed between the top portion and the pair of side walls,
and a window disposed at a rear end of each side wall of the pair
of side walls; and a drawer guide plastic adapted to be partially
disposed within the recess at the rear end of the drawer guide, the
drawer guide plastic having a front end with a pair of legs
extending therefrom and a rear end having a pair of rollers
disposed therein, each leg of the pair of legs including a tab
adapted to be disposed within each window of the pair of side walls
upon insertion of the pair of legs of the drawer guide plastic into
the rear end of the drawer guide, wherein the tabs of the drawer
guide plastic extend outside of the windows of the pair of side
walls and, upon contact with a pair of cam mechanisms of a case
runner plastic, cause the cam mechanisms to rotate into the windows
of the drawer guide, forming a stop mechanism and preventing
further movement of the drawer guide, and the pair of rollers of
the drawer guide plastic is adapted to contact a pair of flanges of
a case runner, reducing friction between the drawer guide and the
case runner.
6. The draw guide plastic assembly of claim 5, wherein the pair of
legs extending from the front end of the drawer guide plastic is
biased in an outward direction, allowing the projections to readily
enter the slots within the side walls of the draw guide after the
front end of the drawer guide plastic is inserted into the rear end
of the drawer guide.
7. The drawer guide plastic assembly of claim 5, wherein the fully
extended position is a position in which the rear end of drawer
guide is disposed at a front end of a case runner.
8. The drawer guide plastic assembly of claim 5, wherein the drawer
guide comprises at least a metal material.
9. The drawer guide plastic assembly of claim 5, the drawer guide
plastic further comprising an upright portion disposed between the
front end and the rear end of the drawer guide plastic, the upright
portion having a front end, a rear end, and a notch disposed on the
rear end that engages an edge of the rear end of the drawer guide
upon insertion of the legs of the drawer guide plastic into the
rear end of the drawer guide.
10. The drawer guide plastic assembly of claim 5, wherein each
window of each of the side walls is disposed toward the rear end of
the drawer guide.
11. The drawer guide plastic assembly of claim 5, wherein each
window includes a projection for receiving each tab of the pair of
legs of the drawer guide plastic.
12. A drawer guide system comprising: a case runner plastic
assembly comprising a case runner having a front end, a rear end, a
base, a pair of side walls attached to the base and a pair of
outwardly extending flanges attached to the pair of side walls and
extending from the front end to the rear end; and a case runner
plastic having a front end, a rear end, a central portion disposed
between the front and rear ends and adapted to be secured to a
drawer frame, a pair of cam mechanisms, each cam mechanism disposed
on either side of the central portion, and a roller bearing surface
disposed in the rear end, wherein the rear end of the case runner
plastic is disposed within and removably secured to the front end
of the case runner such that the pair of side walls of the case
runner contact the rear end of the case runner plastic; and a
drawer guide plastic assembly comprising a drawer guide having a
front end, a rear end, a top portion, a pair of side walls attached
to the top portion, a pair of inwardly extending flanges attached
to the pair of side walls and extending from the front end to the
rear end, an elongate recess disposed between the top portion and
the pair of side walls, and a window disposed on each side wall of
the pair of side walls; and a drawer guide plastic adapted to be
partially disposed within the drawer guide, the drawer guide
plastic having a front end, a rear end, a pair of rollers disposed
in the front end, a pair of legs extending from the rear end and
biased in a outward direction, each leg of the pair of legs having
a tab adapted to be disposed within the window of the pair of side
walls upon insertion of the pair of legs of the drawer guide
plastic into the drawer guide, wherein the recess at the front end
of the drawer guide receives the case runner plastic assembly, such
that the pair of rollers of the drawer guide plastic run along top
surfaces of the pair of flanges of the case runner, reducing
friction between the case runner and the drawer guide; and wherein
the cam mechanisms of the case runner plastic engage the windows of
the side walls of the drawer guide when the drawer guide is in a
fully extended position, forming a lock between the drawer guide
and the case runner plastic and preventing any further extension of
the drawer guide plastic assembly.
13. The drawer guide system of claim 12, wherein the fully extended
position of the drawer guide plastic assembly is a position in
which the rear end of the drawer guide is disposed at the front end
of the case runner plastic.
14. The drawer guide system of claim 12, wherein the fully extended
position of the drawer guide plastic assembly is a position in
which the rear end of the drawer guide is disposed near the pair of
cam mechanisms.
15. The drawer guide system of claim 12, wherein the each cam
mechanism of the pair of cam mechanisms simultaneously rotates upon
initial contact with the tabs of the drawer guide plastic until
each cam mechanism engages the window disposed near the rear end of
the drawer guide to stop movement of the drawer guide.
16. The drawer guide system of claim 12, wherein each cam mechanism
of the pair of cam mechanisms includes a finger that engages the
projection disposed in each window near the rear end of the drawer
guide, causing rotation of the cam mechanism into the window of the
drawer guide and temporarily securing the drawer guide to the case
runner plastic to prevent further extension of the drawer
guide.
17. The drawer guide system of claim 12, wherein each cam mechanism
of the pair of cam mechanisms simultaneously rotates from a first
position upon initial contact with a tab of the drawer guide
plastic to a second position upon engagement with the window of the
side wall of the drawer guide.
18. The drawer guide system of claim 17, wherein fingers of the cam
mechanisms are inserted into the windows of the drawer guide in the
second position, temporarily securing the drawer guide to the case
runner plastic assembly and preventing movement of both the cam
mechanisms and the drawer guide plastic assembly.
19. A drawer guide system comprising: a case runner plastic
assembly having a case runner plastic adapted to be secured to a
drawer frame, and a case runner attached to the case runner
plastic, the case runner plastic having a pair of cam mechanisms;
and a drawer guide plastic assembly having a drawer guide adapted
to be secured to a drawer, and a drawer guide plastic inserted into
and secured to the drawer guide, the drawer guide plastic having a
pair of tabs, wherein the drawer guide includes a pair of
sidewalls, each sidewall having a window for receiving the pair of
tabs of the drawer guide plastic, the drawer guide adapted to run
along a longitudinal axis of the case runner during operation of
the drawer; wherein, upon contact with the tabs of the drawer guide
plastic, the cam mechanisms automatically rotate about an axis
perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the case runner into the
windows of the drawer guide, temporarily securing the case runner
plastic to the drawer guide and preventing any further extension of
the drawer guide.
20. A drawer guide system comprising: a case runner plastic
assembly having a case runner plastic adapted to be secured to a
drawer frame, and a case runner attached to the case runner
plastic, the case runner plastic having a pair of cam mechanisms;
and a drawer guide plastic assembly having a drawer guide adapted
to be secured to a drawer, and a drawer guide plastic inserted into
and secured to the drawer guide, the drawer guide plastic having a
pair of tabs, wherein the drawer guide includes a pair of side
walls, each sidewall having a window for receiving the tabs of the
drawer guide plastic, the drawer guide adapted to run along a
longitudinal axis of the case runner during operation of the
drawer; wherein, upon contact with the tabs of the drawer guide
plastic, the cam mechanisms automatically rotate into the windows
of the drawer guide, creating an interference outside of the
longitudinal axis of the case runner to counterbalance the weight
of a fully extended drawer.
21. The drawer guide system of claim 20, wherein a front end of the
drawer guide assembly creates a bending moment upon extension of
the drawer guide from a fully closed position to a position
extended approximately two-thirds of the way outside of the drawer,
and, upon further movement of the drawer guide to a fully extended
position, the cam mechanisms rotate in a direction perpendicular to
the longitudinal axis of the case runner and engage the windows of
the drawer guide, creating a force that counterbalances the bending
moment of the drawer guide.
Description
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of the filing date of
U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/792,845 filed Mar. 15, 2013.
The entire disclosure of U.S. Provisional Application No.
61/792,845 is incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0002] This disclosure relates generally to drawer assemblies, and,
more particularly, to a case runner drawer guide assembly with
interlocking capability.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0003] Many furniture manufacturers use metal drawer guide
assemblies having an elongate stationary lower metal case runner.
The metal case runner is secured to an inside structure of a
furniture article, and an elongate upper metal drawer guide is
secured to the bottom of a drawer at front and rear ends of the
drawer, for example. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,116,706. Plastic
drawer glides are then often mounted to somewhere in the vicinity
of a rear wall of a drawer to facilitate movement of the drawer
along the lower metal case runner. In most conventional drawer
guide assemblies, the lower metal case runner consists of a
generally U-shaped (or T-shaped) metal rail (in cross-section),
having flanges projecting horizontally outwardly from the upper
ends thereof. The upper metal drawer guide is generally C-shaped in
cross-section and may have an integral, upwardly-extending metal
tab member at the rear end that is secured to the wall of the
drawer. Plastic drawer glides prevent complete metal-to-metal
contact between the case runner and the drawer guide and assist
with the movement of the drawer along the case runner.
[0004] It is desired to reduce friction between relatively-movable
components of a drawer guide assembly so as to improve relative
movement between the drawer guide and the case runner. It is
further desirable to provide a drawer guide system that enables a
drawer to be virtually fully extended from a fully closed position
within a cabinet or drawer frame, without having any further
extension or dislodgement of the drawer and/or imbalance of the
cabinet.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a case runner, a case runner
plastic, a drawer guide and a drawer guide plastic of a drawer
guide system of the present disclosure;
[0006] FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the drawer guide
plastic of FIG. 1;
[0007] FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the drawer guide
plastic of FIG. 1;
[0008] FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of the drawer guide
plastic of FIG. 1;
[0009] FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view of the drawer guide
plastic of FIG. 1 disposed within the drawer guide;
[0010] FIG. 6 is a side perspective view of a rear portion of the
drawer guide having the drawer guide plastic disposed therein;
[0011] FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of the case runner of FIG.1
attached to the case runner plastic of FIG. 1;
[0012] FIG. 8A a front perspective view of the case runner attached
to the case runner plastic of FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 8B is a partial cross-sectional view of a portion of
the case runner plastic taken along the line A-A of FIG. 8A;
[0014] FIG. 8C is another front perspective view of the case runner
attached to the case runner plastic of FIG. 1, illustrating another
embodiment of an attachment mechanism of the case runner
plastic;
[0015] FIG. 8D is a partial cross-sectional view of a portion of
the case runner plastic taken along the line B-B in FIG. 8C;
[0016] FIG. 9 is a rear perspective view of the drawer guide
plastic assembly positioned to move onto the case runner plastic
assembly;
[0017] FIG. 10 is another rear perspective view of the drawer guide
plastic assembly and case runner plastic assembly of the present
disclosure ;
[0018] FIG. 11 is a side perspective view of the drawer guide
plastic disposed within the drawer guide and having the case runner
disposed therein;
[0019] FIG. 12A is a front perspective view of a portion of the
drawer guide system of the present disclosure, wherein the drawer
guide plastic assembly is almost in a fully extended position;
[0020] FIG. 12B is rear perspective view of the drawer guide system
of FIG. 12B;
[0021] FIG. 13A is a front perspective view of the drawer guide
system of the present disclosure, wherein the drawer guide plastic
assembly is in a fully extended position;
[0022] FIG. 13B is a rear perspective view of the drawer guide
system of FIG. 13A; and
[0023] FIG. 14 is a front perspective view of a portion of the
drawer guide system of the present disclosure when a drawer is in a
fully closed position.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0024] The present disclosure is directed to a drawer guide system
for a drawer of a drawer frame of a cabinet or other similar
furniture piece. Generally, the drawer guide system includes a case
runner plastic assembly having a case runner plastic adapted to be
secured to the drawer frame at one end and a case runner at the
other end. The case runner plastic includes a pair of cam
mechanisms, as described in more detail below.
[0025] The drawer guide system further includes a drawer guide
plastic assembly having a drawer guide adapted to be secured to the
drawer and a drawer guide plastic inserted into and secured to the
drawer guide. The drawer guide includes a pair of side walls, each
of which includes a window, and runs along a longitudinal axis of
the case runner during operation of the drawer. More specifically,
the case runner of the case runner plastic assembly fits within the
drawer guide of the drawer guide plastic assembly to connect the
case runner plastic assembly to the drawer guide plastic assembly,
forming the drawer guide system.
[0026] During operation of the drawer, e.g., when the drawer and,
thus, drawer guide are extended from a closed position to an open
position, the cam mechanisms of the case runner plastic
automatically rotate about an axis perpendicular to the
longitudinal axis of the case runner upon contacting a tab within
each window of the drawer guide. The cam mechanisms of the case
runner plastic rotate into the windows of the drawer guide, locking
the drawer guide plastic assembly and preventing any further
extension of the drawer guide and imbalance of the cabinet, thereby
avoiding unwanted dislodgement of the drawer. In addition, rolling
surfaces of both the drawer guide plastic and the case runner
plastic reduce friction between the case runner and drawer guide,
improving movement between the same, as also explained in more
detail below.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0027] Referring now to FIG. 1, a perspective view of the drawer
guide system 10 of the present disclosure is illustrated. The
drawer guide system 10 includes a case runner 12, a case runner
plastic 14, a drawer guide 16, and a drawer guide plastic 18. A
first end of the case runner plastic is secured to the drawer frame
(FIGS. 7 and 8) and a second end is disposed within and secured to
the case runner 12, forming a case runner plastic assembly 15. The
drawer guide plastic 18 is inserted into the drawer guide 16,
forming a drawer guide plastic assembly 19. The drawer guide
plastic assembly 19 receives the case runner 12 of the case runner
plastic assembly 15, improving relative movement between the drawer
guide 16 and the case runner 12, for example, as explained in more
detail below.
[0028] The case runner 12 includes a rail having a U-shaped
cross-section and a front end 20, a rear end 22 and a base 24. A
pair of side walls 26 is attached to the base 24, and a pair of
outwardly extending flanges 28 is attached to the pair of side
walls. Both the pair of side walls 26 and the pair of outwardly
extending flanges 28 extend from the front end 20 to the rear end
22 of the case runner 12. An elongate recess 30 is disposed between
the base 24 and the pair of side walls 26.
[0029] The drawer guide 16 may be C-shaped in cross-section and
includes a front end 32, a rear end 34, a top portion 36, and a
pair of side walls 38 attached to and extending from the top
portion 36. A pair of inwardly extending flanges 40 is attached to
the pair of side walls 38, such that both the pair of side walls 38
and the pair of inwardly extending flanges 40 extend from the front
end 32 to the rear end 34 of the drawer guide 16. An elongate
recess 42 is disposed between the top portion 36 and the pair of
side walls 38, and a window 44 is disposed on each side wall 38 of
the pair of side walls at the rear end 34 of the drawer guide 16,
as illustrated in FIG. 1. While various materials may be used, the
drawer guide 16 is typically made of metal.
[0030] Referring now to FIG. 2, a rear perspective view of the
drawer guide plastic 18 is illustrated. The drawer guide plastic 18
includes a front end 46 and a rear end 48 and is adapted to be
disposed in the recess 42 at the rear end 34 of the drawer guide
16, as explained in more detail below. The front end 46 includes a
pair of legs 50, and the rear end 48 includes a pair of rollers 52.
Each leg of the pair of legs 50 includes a tab 54 that is adapted
to be received within the respective complementary window 44 of the
drawer guide 16 when the front end 46 of the drawer guide plastic
18 is inserted into the rear end 34 of the drawer guide 16 to
secure the drawer guide plastic 18 within the drawer guide 16, as
explained below. The legs 50 are also biased in an outward
direction, allowing the tabs 54 to readily enter the windows 44
within the side walls 38 of the drawer guide 16 upon insertion of
the drawer guide plastic 18 into the rear end 44 of the drawer
guide 16. The tabs 54 of the drawer guide plastic 18 extend outside
of the windows 44 (FIGS. 5 and 6) of the pair of side walls 38,
such that together the tabs 54 and the windows 44 form a stop
mechanism when the drawer guide 16 is in a fully extended position.
In addition, the pair of rollers 52 contacts the pair of flanges 28
of the case runner 12, reducing friction between the case runner 12
and the drawer guide 16.
[0031] Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the drawer guide plastic 18
further includes an upright portion 56 disposed between the front
end 46 and the rear end 48 of the drawer guide plastic 18. The
upright portion 56 includes a front face 58, a rear face 60 and a
notch 62 disposed on the front face 58. The notch 62 engages an
edge of the rear end 34 of the drawer guide 16 (as illustrated in
FIG. 6) upon insertion of the legs 50 of the drawer guide plastic
18 into the rear end 34 of the drawer guide 16, forming the drawer
guide assembly 19.
[0032] Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, the front end 46 of the
drawer guide plastic 18 is inserted into the rear end 34 of the
drawer guide 16. Because the legs 50 of the drawer guide plastic 18
are biased in an outward direction, the tabs 54 on each leg 50 of
the pair of legs of the drawer guide plastic 18 readily fit and
push into the corresponding windows 44 disposed on the side walls
38 of the drawer guide 16 at the rear end 34 of the drawer guide 16
after insertion. Upon further insertion of the drawer guide plastic
18 into the drawer guide 16, the tabs 54 of the legs 50 find the
projections 45 of the windows 44 of the side walls 38 of the drawer
guide 16, securing and essentially locking the drawer guide plastic
18 to the drawer guide 16.
[0033] As further illustrated in FIG. 5, each leg 50 includes a
downwardly projecting tab 51 that extends from a top surface of the
leg 50. The downwardly projecting tabs 51 are designed to be used
to release the lock formed between the drawer guide plastic 18 and
the drawer guide 16, as referred to above, and also release the
drawer guide 16 for easy removal from the case runner 12. Further,
the legs 50 of the drawer guide plastic 18 may be used to bypass
the locking action of the cams 78 to allow drawer removal. More
specifically, the downwardly projecting tabs 51 of the legs 50 are
adapted to be disposed into recesses 53 disposed on side walls 38
of the drawer guide 16 when the tabs 54 are inserted into the
projections 45 of the windows 44 of the side walls 38. When the
projecting tabs 51 are squeezed in, the tabs 54 are unlocked or
released from the projections 45 of the windows 44 in the sidewalls
38 of the drawer guide 16. This enables the drawer guide plastic
assembly to bypass the locking action of the cams 78, allowing
drawer removal.
[0034] As illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8A-8D, the case runner plastic
14 includes a front end 72, a rear end 74, and a central portion 76
disposed between the front end 72 and the rear end 74. The central
portion 76 is adapted to be secured to a drawer frame, such as a
front drawer cross support by an attachment mechanism, such as a
screw or similar fastener. A pair of cam mechanisms 78 is disposed
near the front end 72, such that each cam mechanism 78 is disposed
on either side of the central portion 76. A roller bearing surface
80 is disposed near the rear end 74 of the case runner plastic 14.
The rear end 74 of the case runner plastic 14 is disposed within
and removably secured to the front end 20 of the case runner 12 to
form the case runner plastic assembly 15. The pair of side walls 26
of the case runner 12 contact the rear end 74 of the case runner
plastic 14 when the case runner plastic 14 is disposed within and
secured to the case runner plastic 14.
[0035] As illustrated in FIGS. 8A-8D, the case runner plastic 14
further includes a bracket 82 having an aperture (not shown) for
receiving a fastener 86 or other attachment mechanism for securing
the case runner plastic 14 to the drawer frame. The bracket 82 of
the case runner plastic 14 further includes a pair of wings or feet
82a to which the cam mechanisms are rotatably secured. In other
words, the central portion 76 of the case runner plastic 14 is
secured to the drawer frame 23 via the fastener 86. The fastener 86
is disposed in the aperture of the bracket 82 and then the drawer
frame 23. Each of the cam mechanisms 78 is rotatably secured to the
bracket 82 via an attachment mechanism 88, such as a screw or
rivet. In one embodiment, and as illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 8B,
the cam mechanisms 78 are directly secured to the drawer frame 23
with the attachment mechanism 88 being in the form of a screw that
passes not only through the aperture in the cam mechanism 78 and
the feet 82a of the bracket 82 of the case runner plastic 14, but
also into the drawer frame 23. Alternately, and as illustrated in
FIGS. 8C-8D, having only the central portion 76 of the case runner
plastic 14 secured to the drawer frame 23, and not the feet 82a of
the bracket 82, results in an easier and more efficient process of
assembling the case runner 12 to the drawer frame. This can be
accomplished by rotatably securing the cam mechanisms 78 to the
feet 82a by attachment mechanisms 88 in the form of rivets that do
not extend into the drawer frame 23, as illustrated in FIG. 8D.
[0036] Referring now to FIG. 9, the drawer guide assembly 19 is
positioned to move onto the case runner assembly 15. As illustrated
therein, the central portion 76 of the case runner plastic 14
further includes a pair of arms 90 extending in a direction toward
the rear end 74 of the case runner plastic 14 of the case runner
assembly 15.
[0037] The roller bearing surface 80 of the rear end 74 of the case
runner plastic 14 will contact a bottom surface of the top portion
36 of the drawer guide 16 as the drawer guide plastic assembly 19
moves over the case runner plastic 14 of the case runner assembly
15. This reduces the friction during relative movement between the
case runner 12 and drawer guide 16, improving relative movement
between the drawer guide 16 and the case runner 12.
[0038] In operation, the front end 46 of the drawer guide plastic
18 is inserted into the rear end 34 of the drawer guide 16, as
illustrated, for example, in FIG. 6. As explained above, tabs 54 on
each leg 50 of the pair of legs of the drawer guide plastic 18
readily fit and push into the windows 44 disposed on the side walls
38 of the drawer guide 16 at the rear end 34 of the drawer guide 16
after insertion. The tabs 54 of the legs 50 also find the
projections 45 of the windows 44 of the side walls 38 of the drawer
guide 16, securing and essentially locking the drawer guide plastic
18 to the drawer guide 16.
[0039] After the drawer guide plastic 18 is secured to the drawer
guide 16, forming the drawer guide plastic assembly 19, the rear
end 48 of the drawer guide plastic 18 receives the front end 72 of
the case runner plastic 14 of the case runner plastic assembly 15,
as illustrated in FIG. 9. As noted, the case runner plastic 14 of
the case runner plastic assembly 15 is secured to a portion of a
drawer frame. The drawer guide plastic assembly 19 moves along a
longitudinal axis of the case runner 12, as illustrated in FIG. 10,
for example, to open and close the drawer of the drawer frame or
cabinet. Thus, in a fully closed position (FIG. 14), the front end
32 of the drawer guide 16 is disposed at the front end of 72 of the
case runner plastic 14 of the case runner plastic assembly 15. In a
fully open or extended position, however, the rear end 34 of the
drawer guide 16 is disposed near the front end 20 (FIG. 1) of the
case runner 12 of the case runner plastic assembly 15, as partially
illustrated in FIG. 13A, for example.
[0040] Of course, there are various positions of the drawer guide
16 between the fully open position and the fully closed position,
one of which is partially illustrated in FIG. 11. In this view, the
drawer guide 16 and the drawer guide plastic 18 forming the drawer
guide plastic assembly 19 are disposed between the rear end 22 and
the front end 20 of the case runner 12 of the case runner plastic
assembly 15 (FIG. 1). During such movement of the drawer guide
plastic assembly 19 along the longitudinal axis of the case runner
plastic, e.g., when the drawer guide plastic assembly 19 is moving
from the fully closed position to the fully open position, the pair
of rollers 52 contact the pair of flanges 28 of the case runner 12,
reducing friction between the case runner 12 and the drawer guide
16 and improving overall movement between the same.
[0041] Referring now to FIG. 12A, a perspective, front partial view
of a portion of the drawer guide system 10 of the present
disclosure is illustrated, wherein the drawer guide plastic
assembly 19 is almost in the fully extended position. As
illustrated therein, when the rear end 34 of the drawer guide 16 of
the drawer guide plastic assembly 19 approaches the front end 72 of
the case runner plastic 14, the tabs 54 on the drawer guide plastic
18 disposed in the sidewall 44 of the drawer guide 16 contact the
pair of cam mechanisms 78 of the case runner plastic assembly 15.
This is further illustrated in FIG. 12B, which depicts a rear
perspective view of FIG. 12A.
[0042] Referring now to FIGS. 13A and 13B, after contacting the
tabs 54 on the drawer guide plastic 18, the cam mechanisms 78
automatically rotate 90 degrees into the windows 44 of the drawer
guide 16, essentially locking the drawer guide assembly 19 to the
case runner assembly 15 and preventing the drawer guide assembly 19
from further movement. Thus, the drawer guide assembly 19 is in a
fully extended position.
[0043] In other words, the cam mechanisms 78 simultaneously rotate
from a first position upon initial contact with the tabs 54 of the
drawer guide plastic 16 to a second position, in which the cam
mechanisms 78 are inserted into the windows 44 of the drawer guide
16. More specifically, each cam mechanism 78 includes a finger 79
that contacts and engages the tab 54 disposed in the window 44 of
the drawer guide 16. Such contact and engagement causes the cam
mechanisms 78 to rotate 90 degrees into the windows 44, reaching
the second position and temporarily securing the drawer guide 16 to
the case runner plastic 14. Such engagement prevents further
extension of the drawer guide plastic assembly 19 and maintains the
balance of the cabinet or drawer frame in which the drawer and,
thus, the drawer guide assembly 19, are disposed.
[0044] Said another way, upon contact with the tabs 54 of the
drawer guide 16, the cam mechanisms 78 automatically rotate about
an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the case runner
12. The cam mechanisms 78 rotate 90 degrees into each window 44 of
the drawer guide, temporarily securing the case runner plastic 14
to the drawer guide 16 and preventing any further extension or
movement of the drawer guide 16.
[0045] Engagement between the fingers 79 of the cam mechanisms 78
and the tabs 54 and rotation of the cam mechanisms 78 into the
windows 44 creates an interference outside of the longitudinal axis
of the case runner 14 to counterbalance the weight of the fully
extended drawer. More specifically, the front end 32 of the drawer
guide plastic 16, e.g., FIGS. 1 and 14, creates a bending moment
upon extension of the drawer guide 16 along the longitudinal axis
of the case runner 12 from the fully closed position (FIG. 14) to a
position extended approximately two-thirds of the way outside of
the drawer. Upon further movement of the drawer guide plastic
assembly 19 along the longitudinal axis of the case runner 14
(FIGS. 13A and 13B), the cam mechanisms 78 contact the tabs 54 and
then rotate in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal
direction of the case runner 14 to engage the windows of the drawer
guide 16. Such engagement between the cam mechanisms 78 of the case
runner plastic assembly 15 and the drawer guide 16 of the drawer
guide plastic assembly 19 creates the interference or force in a
direction different from the longitudinal axis of the case runner
12 along which the drawer guide plastic assembly 19 travels. The
interference or force counterbalances the bending moment of the
drawer guide 16, and ultimately the drawer, into which it is
secured, preventing the drawer from becoming dislodged in, or
tipping out of, the drawer frame.
[0046] Referring now to FIG. 14, a portion of the aforementioned
drawer guide system 10 of the present disclosure is depicted when a
drawer 25 (not shown) is in a fully closed position. When the
drawer 25 (not shown) is fully closed, the front end 32 of the
drawer guide 16 of the drawer guide plastic assembly 19 cannot move
any farther than the front end 72 of the case runner plastic 14 to
expose the case runner plastic 14, for example. In other words, the
case runner plastic 14 of the case runner plastic assembly 15 is
prevented from exiting the drawer guide 16 at this end.
[0047] While the preceding text sets forth a detailed description
of numerous different embodiments of the invention, it should be
understood that the legal scope of the invention is defined by the
words of the claims set forth at the end of a patent claiming
priority hereto. The detailed description is to be construed as
exemplary only and does not describe every possible embodiment of
the invention since describing every possible embodiment would be
impractical, if not impossible. Numerous alternative embodiments
could be implemented, using either current technology developed
after the filing date of this patent, which would still fall within
the scope of the claims of the patent. More generally, although
certain example systems and assemblies have been described herein,
the scope of coverage of this patent is not limited thereto. On the
contrary, this patent covers all methods, apparatus and articles of
manufacture fairly falling within the scope of the appended claims
either literally or under the doctrine of equivalents.
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